What do you think of the pay inequality between senior enlisted and junior/mid level officers?

So this may be a little racy and controversial, but its something thats been bothering me tremendously since joining the service.

Now, I understand why Officers get what they get. I understand they are educated, that they deal with a lot of crap, and that with that pay comes a lot of responsibility. Completely get it, don't need it explained to me.

But what I don't get is the mid to high end of the payscale. Bare with me. So heres a few examples:

At 10 years, a Major earns $6,593.00 a month. Yet an E-7 only earns $3,709.80.

Lets go a bit higher, most officers whom retire are Majors or LtCol's. So lets take a 20 year LtCol whom makes around $8,200. Yet an E-9 only makes around $5,400, which is LESS than a major at 10 years.

What I don't get is these E-7 through E-9's have equal, if not more, responsibility than most lower and mid ranking officers. Many of them have achieved a Bachelors or Masters degree, which is what sets officers apart, right? I just don't understand the MASSIVE pay disparity between high ranking enlisted and officers. I understand theres more enlisted, but shouldn't you get paid equal to what your responsibility is? I'm in no way advocating lower enlisted get more, I live a decent life on my wage, but I see what a lot of my superiors deal with and makes me wonder.